Art

Anna Hamiltons Myein is more than simply artistic representation of imagination. Like most of her works, it corresponds to a text, an event or some similar background. The Myein explores different modes of perception of a displaced object or event and how it induces incoherence and thus is self defeating. It portrays paradoxes within our history and in Hamiltons own words it depicts contradictions (Coffey, 2001). Therefore, the Myein, bleeding from the interior owing to these paradoxes, depicts the circumstances that led to this inner state from its exterior.

Ann Hamilton thus, brings forth the contradictions in our history and questions the development of so called civilized value systems and institutions, such as democracy and liberty that evolved from very different, rather contradicting scenarios such as slavery etc.

It is perhaps simplest to relate Myein to my life experiences as it points out towards some of my own hypocrisies and contradictions between my actions and the values I not only uphold but also instruct. It is particularly relevant in the times when I am complying to certain social norms or actions that I do not completely agree to and therefore can feel the stress upon my inner self.

Ann Hamiltons work is very much comparable to that of Anne Carson, renowned Canadian poet and essayist who tried fictionalizing various Greek mythologies and bringing forth the contradictions that existed therein. She even inspired Hamilton in some of her works as Hamilton relies heavily on research and study before recreating history in artistic terms.

Myein can be interpreted as more than a mere representation of history in open spaces. Its dreamy exterior can also be seen as opposing rather than reciprocating the interior. For me, it is much similar to an individual who pretends to be blissful and content though his life is full of all sorts of stresses making him bleed from the inside.

Sandy Skoglund  Hangers
Sandy Skoglund uses the medium of photography to reproduce and recreate surrealistic images in real life. Her work is defined as depicting scenarios that are either dreamy or completely out of place therefore inspiring awe in the viewers. Hangers is yet another depiction of her bizarre world. It shows a room with yellow walls and pink floor covered throughout with blue hangers, while a man enters the room in a yellow night gown.

The picture depicts a dream like scenario which could not be conceived in sane reality however, it is much more than what meets the eye. Skoglunds art is more about arousing certain responses within the subconscious by unsettling the individual who has entered her bizarre world. This unsettling may come about in the form of shock or amazement followed by an acute discomfort.

One of the most compelling responses Hangers induces in its viewer is related to cognitive dissonance. The picture with its bizarreness triggers a mixed response based on confusion, excitement and discomfort. This is very much similar to what I would experience when smoking as on one end, It induces guilt and on the other it excites and leads to mild pleasure eventually, leaving me confused and stressed on my choice of becoming a smoker.

Similar awry scenarios are depicted in the works of various artists however Lewis Carrolls Alice in Wonderland is a very accurate depiction of Hangers as both worlds seem out of place, perhaps dreamy and surrealistic.

This particular scenario however, can be reconciled with other interpretations as well. Very much different from the artists own interpretation, the room itself may serve as the subconscious of an individual and the hangers show an obsession with some object, especially one of a sexual nature. The subconscious thus, is preoccupied with the individuals sexual obsessions and needs to be released

Rene Magritte  The Lovers
The Lovers, perhaps in the literal sense, is a revisit to Magrittes past traumas and how images of the body of her drowned mother come to affect his perceptions. But the literal is merely an idea conceived through experience, being projected as something much more complex. In The Lovers, Magritte does not provide the meaning and leaves it to the observer to interpret. The wrapped cloth though, presents the only mystery and that is what Magritte intends to do provoke the observers subconscious to draw meanings based upon its own experiences. He deeply regrets the encroachment of rationality in the arts and its value as justification of an artists work as for him, art does not require explicit meaning - it is best left to ones imagination.

The most predominant interpretation as hinted by the artist is that love is blind. Picking up from that, love is not a physical connection but an emotional one. I too experienced that when I developed strong feelings for someone who was much older than me and considering other obvious differences, there seemed no rational explanation for my feelings in the context.

Similarities exist in the work of Lyonel Feininger as he did not believe in the functionality or rationality of art either and left his work open to interpretation. Gaberndorf II is perhaps one of his most prominent works

As my own personal interpretation, The Lovers is portrayal of a sadness that will take over the individual eventually. The pieces of cloth wrapping the faces do not depict blindness of any sort, but links the lovers relationship to the artists own sorrow and trauma that he experienced when he lost his mother. Thus, love eventually leads to sorrow and grief, be it through the loss of ones lover or the conclusion of a relationship.

 Rene Magritte  The Therapist
One of the works that most inspired me was The Therapist by Rene Magritte. What Magritte is trying to depict in this art work, remains unclear and ambiguous, like his other surrealist creations and perhaps that is the beauty of this portrait. It is so explicit and vivid yet unclear in its meaning. In the words of Magritte himself If one looks at a thing with the intention of trying to discover what it means, one ends up no longer seeing the thing itself, but of thinking of the question that is raised. (Keresztes, 2007) In the therapist, Magritte assembles objects from daily life in a vivid manner though still, no definite or explicit relations could be made.

How I bestow meaning to this work solely depends on my interpretation of it. I chose to interpret is as a parent who is cruel, subjugating and unkind toward its siblings one who imposes his will upon them and obstructs their process of intellectual growth.

This work though surrealist in nature, but owing to its openness to interpretation, may be regarded somewhat closer to postmodernist art. Taking the lead from Anthony Giddens, it takes meaning according to the imagination of its interpreter.

A number of other interpretations could be made out of The Therapist owing to the ambiguity of the subject and the setting portrayed. The interpretation that I make here relates the work to Platos Allegory of the Cave.  As seen in the portrait, the birds within the cage depict souls yet to be enlightened of the different forms of wisdom. Their vision is hindered by the veil that causes darkness and prevents them to see all around their cages. Instead, their sight is limited to only one side which remains open.